Marking machine



Jan. 12, 1943.

MARKING MACHINE original Filed Feb. 5, 1941 c. F. ROBBINS El AL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invenfors.

Charles F Robbins David E PuTnqm yfuwwkw Anys'.

Jan. 12, 1943. c. F; ROBBINS VETAL MARKING- MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 5, 1941 .FigZ

MARKEM \nv enTo r's. 6' Charles F Robbins David F.' Pufnqm by wwa M W ya.

MARKEM;

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Jan. 12, 1943. c. F. "ROBBINS ETAL MARKING MACHINE Original Filed Feb/5, 1941 4 sheets-sheet s Fig; 8.

y a lnvenTo'r s, Charles E Robbins David F. PuTnum r byfmd AT ya.

Jan. 12,1943. c. F. ROBBINS ETAL MARKING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 5, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lnven'ror'.

Charles F, Robbins David E Putnam WWW! r AIfyt.

Patented Jan. 12, 1943 MARKING MACHINE Charles F. Robbins and David F. Putnam, Keene, N. lit, assignors to Markem Machine Company, Keene, N. 11, a corporation of New Hampshire Qriginal application February 5, 1941, Serial No. 377,446. Divided and this application July 21, 1941, Serial No. 403,308

1 Claim.

This invention relates to marking machines of that type in which the printed impression is applied to the work by a manually manipulated transfer roll which is separable from the other parts of the machine and which can be temporarily assembled with such other parts for the purpose of receiving an ink impression that is subsequently transferred to the work by the manual manipulation of the transfer roll.

In our co-pending application, Serial No. 377,- 4 6, filed February 5, 1941, of which this is a division, there is illustrated a marking machine of the above type which comprises two rotary type-carrying members, each having a type element mounted thereon, means to give said typecarrying members a cyclic movement by which each type element is moved through a path that begins and ends at the same point, a transfer roll rotatably mounted in a holder therefor which is separable from the machine frame and is capable of being manually placed in the frame in an operative position in which it is so located as to receive an ink impression from the type elements as the type-carrying members are rotated, and

means to rotate the transfer roll when it is in its operative position, thereby to provide a rolling contact between the said roll and the type elements by which the latter lay an ink impression on the transfer roll, said holder being capable of being manually removed from the frame and manually manipulated to transfer the ink impression thereon to the article to be marked.

In the machine illustrated in said application, the means for operating the type-carrying members is such that at the end of each operation of the machine, said members are brought to rest in a predetermined angular position, and the transfer roll is so constructed that it can only be introduced into the machine or removed therefrom when both it and the type-carrying members Inc. machine having two type-carrying mem- (CE. Mil-217) ed impression, the type element on one typecarrying member being adapted to apply to the transfer roll an imprint corresponding to part of the complete printed impression, and the type element on the other type-carrying member being constructed to apply an ink impression to the transfer roll corresponding to the remaining portion of the complete printed impression.

These machines are also usually made with interchangeable type elements which can be removed from the type-carrying members and replaced by other type elements adapted to make a different printed impression.

In the machine shown in our co-pending ap plication, Serial No. 377,446, means are provided for holding the transfer roll in a fixed position during the time that it is receiving its ink impression from the two type members, and in order to make a perfect ink impression on the transfer roll, it is important that the two typecarrying members should be properly adjusted relative to each other and to the transfer roll when the latter is in its fixed operative position, so that neither ink impression Will be either too light or too heavy relative to the other ink impression.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of our invention to provide novel means for supporting the type-carrying members and so adjusting them relative to each other and to the transfer roll when the latter is in its fixed position that each type member will make a proper ink impression on the transfer roll.

In the drawings wherein we have illustrated an embodiment of our invention:

Fig. 1 is a front View of an offset marking machine embodying the invention with the transfer roll removed.

, Fig. 2 is a View looking to the right, Fig. 1, with the casing removed and the transfer roll shown in. dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33, Fig. 1, showing the means for rotating the type-carrying members and the transfer roll.

Fig. 4' is a fragmentary sectional view showing the means for supporting and adjusting the shafts for the type-carrying members.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the transfer roll.

Figs. 8 and 9 show two type elements, each of which is adapted to make an ink impression corresponding to part of the complete ink impression that is to be transferred to the Work.

Fig. 10 is illustrative of the complete ink impression.

The machine herein illustrated comprises two rotatable type-carrying members 3 and 4 which are mounted on rotary shafts 6 and 'i. These shafts are journaled in the frame 8, and each shaft has a sprocket Wheel H thereon which meshes with and is driven by an endless sprocket chain I2, the sprocket wheel on the lower shaft 1 not being visible in Fig. 1. This sprocket chain 52 is driven from a shaft 43 through the medium of a one-revolution clutch indicated generally at 54, one of the clutch elements being provided. with a sprocket wheel 41 which meshes with and drives the sprocket chain l2. The shaft 48 is connected by suitable gearing 53, 52 to a shaft of a motor 49.

The driving connections above referred to between the motor 49 and the sprocket chain l2 are the same as those described in detail in our co-pending application, Serial No. 377,446, to which reference may be had.

Each rotary type-carrying member 3 and It carries on its periphery a type element, said type elements being indicated at 5 and 5a. Each type element is made so as to print a part only of the complete printed impression to be made.

For purpose of illustrating, we have assumed that the complete printed impression comprises the word markem, as indicated at 51) in Fig. with a rectangular border 50 enclosing the word. The type element 5 may carry type characters to print the word markem, as shown in Fig. 8, and the type element 511 may carry a type character adapted to print a rectangular border 50. Ink is supplied to the type members 5, do by means of inking rolls 34 which operate in ink reservoirs 33, each inking roll having a shaft 35 which is journaled in the corresponding reservoir. These reservoirs are suspended from studs 37 extending from the frame 8 and are held in adjusted position on the studs by clamping screws 39.

The shaft 35 of each inking roll is driven from a sprocket wheel 5! that meshes with the sprocket chain I2. This inking appliance is the same as that illustrated in our co-pending ap-p1i cation, Serial No. 377,446.

The clutch device 5 8 is tripped by a trip lever 63 which is mounted on a rock shaft 53, the construction being such that when the trip lever 63 is depressed from its position shown in Fig. 2, the clutch 54 will be engaged and the rotary typecarrying members 3 and 4 will each be given one complete rotation, said clutch element operating to bring said members to rest when each has completed its single rotation.

The transfer or offset roll which receives an ink impression from each of the type elements 5, 5a, and by which this ink impression is transferred to the work, is indicated at l3. This transfer roll is carried in a holder i5 which is provided with two arms 16 in which the transfer roll is rotatably mounted, and which is also provided with a handle H by which it may be manually manipulated. The transfer roll, which may be of rubber or synthetic rubber-like material that will take a good ink impression, is mounted on a shaft M, the ends of which project through the arms it of the holder and form trunnion portions Hi. The frame of the machine is formed with two pairs of supporting arms 25, 26, the arms of each pair forming between them an open-ended slot 21 into which the trunnion portions l8 of the shaft 14 may be inserted, these two pairs of arms 25, 26 being spaced apart a proper distance to receive between them the forked portion E6 of the holder E5. The transfer roll is introduced into the machine to receive its ink impression by entering the trunnions l8 into the open ends of the slots 21, and when the roll is in a position in which the trunnion portions [8 bottom against the inner end of the slots 21, then said roll will be in an operative position to receive an ink impression from each of the type elements 5 and 5a when the type-carrying members are rotated.

The machine is provided with means for positively rotating the transfer roll in synchronism with the type-carrying members 3 and 4 when the latter are rotated, and for this purpose, the trunnion portion I8 of the shaft [4 of the transfer roll i3 is provided with a wedge-shaped slot 32 which is adapted to receive the wedge-shaped end 3| of a shaft 29 which is journaled in the frame 8 and is provided with a sprocket wheel 39 which meshes with and is driven by the sprocket chain 12.

When the machine has been brought to rest by the clutch 54 at the end of any operation, the shaft 29 will always be positioned with the narrow edge of the wedge 3i directed toward the open end of the slot 21.

When the transfer roll i3 is angularly positioned in its holder 15 with the wide end of the slot 32 directed away from the handle H, as shown in Fig. '7, then said transfer roll can be inserted into its operative position in the machine, and as the transfer roll approaches its operative position, the wedge-shaped end 3% of the shaft is will enter the wedge-shaped slot 32 of the shaft 14, thereby coupling the shafts 29 and I4 together, so that when the machine is started in operation, the transfer roll l3, as well as the type-carrying members 3 and 3, will be positively rotated. The sprocket wheel and sprocket chain construction for rotating the shafts 6, l and 29, is such that the transfer roll l3 will be rotated at the same surface speed as the type-carrying members 3 and 4. In the construction herein shown, the transfer roll is only one half the diameter of the type-carrying members 3 and 4, and the sprocket wheel and sprocket chain construction operate to rotate the transfer roll [3 twice for each single rotation of the type-carrying members 3 and i. In operating the device, the transfer roll is inserted into the machine as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby coupling its shaft M with the sha t 29, and then the clutch 54 is tripped by the trip lever 93 and the type-carrying members 3 and 4 are each given one complete rotation While the transfer roll is given two rotations, during which each type element 5 and 5a, lays an ink impression on the transfer roll, the ink impression left by the type element 5 comprising the word mar kem, and the ink impression left by the type element 5a being in the form of a rectangular border which encloses the word markem. These two ink impressions are laid on the trans fer roll E3 in exact registry with each other, thereby to form the complete impression to be transferred to the work.

The clutch 54 will bring the parts to rest in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the wedgeshaped portion 3| of the shaft 29 extending horizontally, so that the transfer roll, with its ink impression therein, can be readily withdrawn from the machine, after which it can be rolled over the work to transfer the ink impression thereto. In the device herein illustrated, the holder I is provided with an arm 61 having an offset portion 68 by which the trip lever 66 can be tripped so that when the transfer roll has been inserted into the machine, the clutch can be thrown into operation by merely swinging the handle I1 of the transfer roll downwardly to cause the end 68 of the arm 61 to engage and depress the trip lever 66.

Since the complete ink impression which is formed on the transfer roll I3 is constituted by the two ink impressions which the two type members 6 and 5a apply to said transfer roll, it is, of course, important that each type member 5 or So should have the same printing pressure on the transfer roll during the operation of the machine.

The fact that the type members 5 and 5a are removable and interchangeable makes it necessary to provide some form of adjustment to enable both type elements to have the same printing pressure on the transfer roll.

When the transfer roll is in the machine, it is maintained in a fixed position by reason of the trunnions I8 being supported in and bottoming against the ends of the slots 21.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the adjustment between the type-carrying members and the transfer roll when the latter is in its operative position is secured by mounting each shaft 6 and I in an adjustable bearing support so as to permit each shaft to be adjusted toward and from the transfer roll when the latter is in its operative position as necessary to obtain the same printing pressure between each of the type elements and the transfer roll.

In the present embodiment of the invention, each shaft 6 and I is mounted in suitable ball bearings I0 which are carried by a housing I30, each housing being adjustably mounted in the portion 8 of the frame so as to provide for vertical adjustment of each of the shafts 6 and I.

Each housing I30 is formed with a circular portion I3I which fits within a circular opening I32 with which the frame 8 is provided. This circular portion I3I of the housing I30 is eccentrio with relation to the axis of the shaft 6 or 1 so that the turning of the housing within the aperture I32 on its eccentric portion I3I will produce an orbital movement of the shaft 6 or I and thus cause each shaft to be raised or lowered relative to the frame 8.

Each housing I30 is clamped in any adjusted position by means of two clamping blocks I35, each clamping block having a lip I40 which overlies a peripheral flange I34 with which the housing is provided. This flange I34 is concentric with the circular wall of the eccentric portion I3I of the housing, or, in other words, is concentric with the opening I32 in the frame 8.

Each clamping block I35 is clamped to the frame 8 by a clamping screw I36, and when the clamping screws are tightened, the lips I40 of the clamping blocks have sufficient clamping engagement With the annular flange I34 to lock the housing in its adjusted position.

By this means, either type-carrying member 3 or 5 may be adjusted vertically as necessary to produce the proper printing pressure between its type member and the transfer roll.

Although the vertical adjustment of each shaft 6 or I involves a movement of the said shaft in a horizontal direction because of the orbital motion of the shaft during the adjusting operation, yet since the shafts 6 and I are driven from the sprocket chain I2, any adjustment of the shafts does not in any way interfere with the driving connection between the driving sprocket wheel 41 and the sprocket wheels II for the shafts 6 and I.

The sprocket chain I2 is held under proper tension by a tensioning sprocket wheel I I6 around which said sprocket chain I2 passes, and which is mounted on a stud I" carried by a bracket I I8 that is pivoted to the frame at II9. This bracket is acted on by a pulling spring I20, one end of which is anchored to the frame 8 at I2I, and the other end of which is connected to the hooked arm I22 of the bracket H8. The tension of the spring I20 tends to swing the sprocket wheel I I6 downwardly and thereby the sprocket chain is held under the uniform and proper tension, notwithstanding any adjustment which may be made in the shafts 6 and I and their sprocket wheels II.

We claim:

A marking machine of the class described comprising a frame having a vertical wall provided with two circular openings therethrough, a bearing member in each opening, each bearing member having a circumferential flange which overlies one face of said wall and being turnable about its axis in its opening, clamping blocks secured to the wall and engaging the flange of each bearing member and operating to clamp it in any adjusted angular position, a shaft journaled in each bearing member eccentrically thereof, each shaft extending beyond its bearing member at both ends and thus having two free ends, a type-carrying member fixed on one free end of each shaft, a sprocket wheel fixed on the other free end of each shaft, a sprocket chain engaging said sprocket wheels and operating to rotate the type-carrying members, a transfer roll, and means normally mounting the transfer roll in an operative position in which it is adapted to receive an ink impression from each type-carrying member.

CHARLES F. ROBBINS. DAVID F. PUTNAM. 

